Earth Day 2012

Happy Earth Day!  

I love infographics and the one below from Recyclebank is perfect for today!

Share Responsibility for the Planet

Create a network effect on the environment with small changes to your everyday behavior -- Let's take going green viral!

• Fill a Pool: If all Facebook users shortened their showers by 1 minute we'd save enough water to fill 1,123,364 Olympic-sized swimming pools  
• Pin Your Green Idea: If every active Pinterest user pinned one reuse idea per month, there would be 12 million new green ideas on the web
• Power Down: If all Twitter users shut down their computers for one hour, it'd be like taking 9,128 cars off the road for a  year
• Up your Eco-IQ: If you set aside just two minutes a day to watching an environmental video, you'd set aside 12 hours a year to improve your eco-knowledge
• Donate to Illuminate: If every smart phone was recycled at the end of its life, enough energy would be saved to power 199,800 homes for one year.
• Hit the Pavement: If all Nike+ app users ran outside for just one day instead of on a treadmill $442,500 could be saved on electricity bills.  

Environmental Benefits of Reduced Meat Consumption

Skip the Burger, Save the Earth :-)

Eating Less Meat Can Help Preserve Our Planet

REDUCE YOUR CARBON (AND METHANE) FOOTPRINT 
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the meat industry generates 1/5 of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation. All livestock greatly contribute to CO2 emissions through their respiratory processes, but also of monumental concern is methane gas (CH4) emissions from their digestive processes. Methane gas is 21 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. With nearly 1.5 billion large ruminants like cows world-wide, both carbon dioxide and methane gas are being emitted into the atmosphere at astounding rates. These rates have been decreasing lately, but are still much higher than our Earth can continue to support, while remain a healthy environment for us.[1]

MINIMIZE WATER USAGE 
The water needs of livestock are tremendous, greatly exceeding those of vegetables or grains It takes 1,800 - 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of grain fed beef. With that same amount water, farmers could grow 16 pounds of broccoli, 25 pounds of potatoes, enough soybeans for three pounds of tofu or enough wheat for nearly five pounds of whole wheat bread.[2]

HELP REDUCE FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCE 
On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S. Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein. Moderating meat consumption is a great way to cut fossil fuel demand.[3]

PRESERVE THE RAIN FOREST  
Cattle ranching is the largest impetus behind the destruction of the Amazon Rain Forest with deforestation occurring at an alarming rate. From May 20000 to August 2006 alone, Brazil lost nearly 58,000 square miles of forest—an area larger than Greece.[4]



Learn More:
Meatless Monday
Health Benefits of Reduced Meat Consumption
Beef Consumption at 50 Year Low

Sources:
[1] http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM
[2] http://www.sierraclub.org/sustainable_consumption/toolkit/choosing.pdf
[3] http://www.meatlessmonday.com/why-meatless/
[4] http://www.mongabay.com/brazil.html

9 Things to Stop Worrying About

Too much stress can wreak havoc on your health. Get answers and stop tormenting yourself over some common health concerns:

1. Do I really need eight glasses of water everyday?
2. Will stress turn my hair gray?
3. Will reading in poor light ruin my eyesight?
4. Is my daily pick-me-up bad for me?
5. Must I feed a cold and starve a fever?
6. Do I need to eat fresh vegetables daily?
7. Are the eggs I eat going to lead to heart disease?
8. Can I catch a cold if I'm out in the cold weather too long?
9. Could my lipstick be making me sick?

This Health.com article answers your plaguing questions:

 9 Things to Stop Worrying About - Health.com

Get Outside, Get Moving and Get Happy!

For years, I've been telling my clients to get outside and walk, even if it's just for five or ten minutes during a break at work or after dinner. Getting outside to exercise lifts your spirits and re-energizes you! You get fresh air and you get your heart and lungs pumping! Now there is scientific research to support that advice! From BBC News:

Just five minutes of exercise in a "green space" such as a park can boost mental health, researchers claim. There is growing evidence that combining activities such as walking or cycling with nature boosts well-being.

In the latest analysis, UK researchers looked at evidence from 1,250 people in 10 studies and found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem.The study in the Environmental Science and Technology journal suggested the strongest impact was on young people.

The research looked at many different outdoor activities including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming in locations such as a park, garden or nature trail. The biggest effect was seen within just five minutes [and an even] bigger effect was seen with exercise in an area that also contained water - such as a lake or river.

Tip #5 -- Increase Your Water Intake

Water is a vital component to life. No living being can survive without a fresh supply of pure water each and every day. If you do not consume enough water each day, your body will age faster, appear fatter, be more susceptible to germs, illness and stress, lose joint mobility, and much more. Do you often feel tired, run down or confused? Even mild dehydration can cause hazy short-term memory, difficulty concentrating and staying focused, and daytime fatigue. In fact, it’s estimated that 75% of Americans have mild, but chronic dehydration, which is one of the most frequent and common causes of daytime fatigue. Most people who weigh less than 150 pounds require no less than 8-10 cups per day; those who weigh 150 pounds or more require 10-16 cups per day. You’ve heard this before, but now it’s time to implement what you know. Try starting small, add an extra glass of water with breakfast each morning this week. Next week add an extra glass with lunch.

Easy, Delicious & Healthy Chili!

Perfect for fall!  Super nutritious! It comes in a can and heats up in minutes!  Dinner doesn't get much more convenient!  My husband and I love Amy's Organic Medium Chili (Kaylin does too, but it whips right through her 18-month-old digestive system!). We've been feeding her Annie's Certified Organic Cheesy Ravioli as an alternative. 

Have more time on your hands and want to make your own hearty, yet ultra healthy chili?  Try this recipe from Vegetarian Times -- Three-Bean Vegetable Chili.  It's been one of my favorites for years.  I usually skip the fennel and cilantro as I'm not a big fan of either, but that's just my personal preference.  This chili gets better with time!  Make extra and freeze it for later!

Don't forget to have a big glass of water to drink with your chili!!!

Good, Good, Good, Good Hydration!

Sing it to the tune of Good Vibrations!  Are you drinking enough water?  Probably not . . . 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

Some Interesting Facts about Dehydration:

• Even mild dehydration will slow your metabolism by as much as 3%.
• One glass of water made midnight hunger pangs cease for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
• Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue.
• Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
• A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
• Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, breast cancer by 79%, and bladder cancer by 50%. 
  

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?  I know we haven’t been. I’ve been waking up in the morning with my mouth all dry and my skin is so parched it makes me think of the old Lubriderm, “See you later, Alligator” commercial.  My husband likes to drink everything but water, and our eighteen month old throws sippy cups of water on the floor and demands juice or soda instead.

So this week, we are recommitting ourselves to getting and staying hydrated!  We challenge you to do the same!

What we’ll be drinking:

• Water, Water, and More Water!
• We’re shooting for five 16.9 ounce bottles each day!

What we won’t be drinking:

• Caffeinated Beverages – Caffeine is a diuretic, which can lead to dehydration.
• Alcohol – It’s also a diuretic.